Know Your Wylie Windshield

Most of us in Wylie never even give any thought to the windshields in our car. We realize that it is there but we do not think about it until it is cracked or dirty.  Our windshields today at our auto glass replacement shop in Wylie, Allen, and Plano have quite a history. Windshields have come a long way in their development and are much safer than they used to be.

The first windshields that were put into cars were made of nothing more than the glass we use in our ordinary windows. This caused many safety concerns. Furthermore, we have all seen a broken window before. In fact, when a window breaks it usually does so in shards. In addition, these shards of glass are very dangerous when they are directly in front of you in a car accident. This glass was hurting passengers that were in car accidents. This glass is also very easy to break. When it would come in contact with another force it would break very quickly and in a very dangerous manner.

Auto Glass Materials

Many folks in Wylie began to sue the car manufacturers because of how dangerous these front windows were. When the car manufacturers were tired of being sued, they began to develop windshields that were much more durable. The glass was then fitted to the car using a rubber or neoprene seal. Not only did they seal the glass to the car but they also came up with a tougher glass.

This glass shattered upon impact instead of breaking into large shards. This shattering was much safer, but the glass also shattered very easily. Customers in Wylie Tx were getting frustrated because their windshield would shatter form just one stone flying up and hitting it. Realizing that the windshields needed to be more durable, the car manufacturers set out to find a new technology.

The Innovation of Wylie Auto Glass

Third Visor Frit

Henry Ford found that the French were laminating their glass. This laminating process solved the problem of flying debris breaking the windshields. This laminating process made it so the windshields were made out of two sheets of glass instead of one. Between the two sheets of glass was a layer of cellulose. This cellulose layer was the key to the whole process. It would keep the windshield together when it was broken.

Windshields continued to transform as technology advanced. These developments usually arose out of the need for a safer windshield. The majority of nations now require that a windshield stays in one piece even when it is pierced or broken. This initially sounds impossible, but we have developed glass that can accomplish just this. When a windshield breaks that meets these requirements it will break but look like a spider web. The force is distributed throughout the window and the window will not collapse.

Options for a Cracked Windshield

Now when we are driving and something flies up off the road and hits our windshield we do not have to worry about our windshield breaking into large shards and hurting us. This auto glass that is usually required now in cars is tempered glass. After the windshield has broken into a spider web looking formation the glass breaks down to become tiny pebble-like pieces of glass.

These pebble-like pieces of glass do not have sharp edges and will not hurt the driver and the passenger. The glass is also safer to clean up after an accident and will not cut through the tires of cars that drive nearby. This tempered glass is created by rapidly heating and cooling the glass as it is produced. This process makes the Autoglass strong but also breakable.

As many of us know in Wylie, this glass does not always stop our windshields from breaking. There is nothing more frustrating than driving down the street completely innocently and having a rock fly up and crack your windshield. Depending on the severity of the windshield or auto glass brake you have a few different options. If the cracks in your windshield inhibit you from seeing the road you will have to replace your windshield.

Process of Windshield Replacement

A lot of people in Wylie choose to replace their own windshield. This is a complicated process and although it is doable, it may be less expensive to just have a professional do it. If you choose to replace your windshield at home make sure that you buy a piece of glass that meets safety requirements and is an exact fit for your car. These steps are very important for your safety.

Sometimes when you get a crack in your windshield and it is not a severe crack you can just have it filled. There are often times companies that will even travel to you to fill your chips or cracks in your windshield.

Is Your Glass Safe Enough

Safety glass is one of those areas we hear precious little about in automotive circles.

Why is it that we get inundated with press releases about the latest shock absorber or the newest engine with 12 valves per cylinder and almost nothing about safety glass?

You could argue that the reasons are, well, transparent. After all, glass isn't a very sexy subject, while talking about cylinders and pistons will raise the pulse of even the most jaded enthusiast.

But think about it: After brakes and seatbelts, what's more, important to the safety and comfort of a car's occupants than glass?

Here at Frisco Auto Glass repair in Texas, where our offices are based, it's a veritable fashion show out there on the freeways. In a town where breast implants outnumber brain surgery by a wide margin, it's no wonder that we spend so much time gawking at one another in our cars.

But glass -- hard, simple, clear glass -- makes it all possible. Without glass, we wouldn't be able to stare. Without glass, we'd be running into each other.

It's common knowledge that the skin is the largest organ on the human body. So, too, glass plays a primary role in covering and protecting your car.

Auto Glass of Frisco Advancements

Recent advancements in automotive glass have paved the way for a new family of products. Volvo, an automaker long identified with safety, has now joined Mercedes, BMW and other European automakers with the introduction of Enhanced Protective Glass (EPG), a cutting-edge technology developed by Solutia Inc., a St. Louis-based chemical company. Currently available as an option on the S80 sedan and the new V70 wagon and sport wagon, EPG has a number of benefits over the traditional automotive shatter-proof glass, such as:

• reduced weight
• protection from ultraviolet light
• theft deterrence
• protection from occupant ejection during accidents
• protection from outside projectiles
• reduction of unwanted traffic and highway noise

Volvo's Enhanced Protective Glass is made from polyvinyl butyral (PVB), a new kind of laminated glass specifically developed for side and rear windows of motor vehicles. Marketed under the trade name Saflex PVB, the product is made by laminating a sheet of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two sheets of glass under heat and pressure. This is similar to the process used in manufacturing windshields, although it is engineered to 3.8 millimeters, much thinner than a windshield. (Windshield glass typically runs thicker, between 4 and 5 millimeters, sometimes more.)

The idea for automotive safety glass goes back to 1905 when Englishman John Crew Wood received the first patent for laminated safety glass. Believe it or not, the original interlayer was made from natural tree resin. Advances followed. In 1910, an inventor named Douard Benedictus proposed using gelatin to adhere to the glass and plastic layers. His product became known as "Triplex" glass and was used during World War I for goggles, gas masks and windshields in airplanes. It also found its way into automobile windshields.

Auto glass replacement in Plano has come a long way since then, and hopefully, we can continue to service this into a secure and safe feeling.  So the next time one of you see that cracked windshield running through your car glass consider replacing it at your local Plano auto glass service shop.

What is Auto Glass Repair?

Yesterday you heard what sounded like a few small pebbles hitting your front grille and windshield on the way home from work. This morning you see a small chip in the glass, but it's over on the passenger side, and it looks insignificant, so you forget about it. All goes well until two weeks later when a pothole sends a shudder through the car and you notice almost immediately that now instead of a small chip, your windshield has three cracks, and one is almost six inches long.
At this point, auto glass repair is inevitable.

The longer you wait, the longer the cracks will become. And what could have been solved in two minutes with a touch of resin will now require more time and more expertise.
Autoglass repair experts all agree that the time to take care of a damaged windshield is when you first notice the damage. Wherever you live, finding an auto glass repair shop or windshield replacement company can be overwhelming with so many to choose from.

The Right Carrollton Auto Glass Shop Company

Windshields from 1st Class

And finding a time when you won't need your car can be difficult. Here a few things to consider. Most shops that specialize in auto glass repair have mobile services that can come to your home or place of business. You will need to provide the keys to your vehicle and an area in which to get the work accomplished. But this doesn't mean you need to find a covered garage or ask your co-workers to move their cars; you simply have to ensure that your auto glass repair professional can get into and around your car easily. Most auto glass repair techniques require access to both the inside and outside of the windshield, with a little extra space for tools.

Windshield Replacement and Options

Many automobile insurance policies will cover the cost of auto glass repair or replacement in full, with no deductible. However, if your policy does not provide this coverage, average costs will be as follows. Replacing a windshield will cost between $150 and $325. Costs for chip repair range from $20 for in-store service to $55 for mobile service. Expect to pay $20 more for each additional chip. Costs for crack repair up to 12 inches range from $50 - $59; cracks between 12 and 24 inches range from $59 to $69. Reputable shops will advise replacement of windshields with cracks longer than 24 inches since anything bigger cannot be repaired safely. 

Only certain chips and cracks can be repaired. Repairs can't be in the driver's direct line of sight.
A properly installed windshield has three life-saving features in the event of an accident. It acts as a backboard for the deployment of airbags; it can keep passengers inside the vehicle in the event of an accident, and it prevents the roof from caving in during a rollover. If a replacement is necessary, find an auto glass repair shop that will do the replacement with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) windshields and fast-cure OEM sealants and primers. These products cost auto glass shops more than aftermarket brands, but they are worth it because they protect the structural integrity of the car.

Trained Auto Glass Technicians are the Way to Go

It is very frequent for small pebbles to be flying through the air on the highway as motorists travel every day. In a fast moment, one of those pebbles can jump up and cause a chip or crack in your windshield. It's frustrating for sure. No one likes to spend money getting their windshield mended and many procrastinate, not knowing that time is of the essence when dealing with a dinged windshield.

Auto Glass Repair Choices

There are a variety of alternatives for you when you find yourself in this situation. There are plenty of local auto glass repair shops in your community as well as large well-known companies. A Selection of these will even come to you via their mobile services. The consequence thing here is simply doing something about your damage as soon as you can. Safety issues are important and a small chip or crack can grow quickly if left alone, thus decreasing the resilience of your windshield.

Why You Should Get Professional Auto Glass Repair

Do you know that your windshield acts as a protector for you and your passengers? It doesn't just keep the wind and bugs away, it is essential for increasing the structural safety of your car. You don't want an amateur fixing your dinged windshield. Let safety be a priority and only hire a skillfully trained auto glass technician to help you.